Have no confidence that Centre, Delhi govt can handle pandemic or will help us: Migrant workers feeling city

Lack of confidence in both the BJP government at the Centre and the AAP government in Delhi to handle the resurgent Covid crisis and their bitter experiences last year when a nationwide lockdown was imposed, has led to the mass exodus of migrant workers from Delhi, National Herald has found after talking to several fleeing migrants near the Delhi-UP border on Tuesday.

A day before, on Monday, lakhs of migrants thronged Anand Vihar Bus Terminus, fleeing for their respective destinations immediately after the AAP government announced a six day lockdown in Delhi.

While many hundreds of them managed to catch buses, some decided to walk on foot. Others had to spend the night on the road and footpaths around the ISBT under the open sky, fighting the heat and mosquitoes before they could embark on their journey on Tuesday.

Holding a plastic bucket full of utensils in his right hand and a backpack on his left, Saurabh Kumar, who looked to be in his 30s, said he did not believe in assurances given by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

A resident of Lehsari tehsil in Gorakhpur district, Saurabh Kumar said he came to Delhi a few months back and worked as a painter in Laxmi Nagar area, from which he earned 12-15 thousand rupees in a month.

Kumar, who shared a room with 4 people from his home town until he vacated the room on Monday. said, “Politicians say a lot but don’t really care for the people. How would I survive if they extend the lockdown?” he asked. Two of his partners managed to find a bus to Lucknow on Monday night.

“If I do not manage to get a bus/vehicle, I will walk on foot,” said Kumar, whose village is more than 800 km from Anand Vihar.

When asked what if he contracts the virus in the crowd, the young migrant replied, “Death is the last thing which is certain. It is not in our hand to decide about death.”

National Herald also met with a group of people who were going to Bulandshahr, about 60 km away from Anand Vihar bus terminus.

The group comprised women and children also. Some of them were wearing masks loosely, some had wrapped gamchas wound the nose and mouth. They said they do not believe in promises made by the AAP government.

One of the women said, “We came back in search of bread and butter, but the pandemic rendered us jobless again.” The woman, who said she works at a construction site, said, “Last year, we had to flee the city on foot. The government, whether it is BJP or AAP, doesn't do what they say. Kejriwal will not provide us food...Even if he does for some days how long will he do it?”

Sukkhan, who works as a carpenter at a furniture showroom in Laxmi Nagar, told National Herald that he had to pay the whole rent last year despite assurance made by the AAP government. “My landlord did not agree to ease the burden of my monthly rent,” said Sukkhan, adding, “The showroom where I work is closed now. If people don’t buy our products, how would my owner pay my salary? We do not have any option other than leaving the city.”

When asked about his opinion about the handling of the Covid pandemic by the Modi government, Sukkhan said, “Modi ji is always busy with the elections. Only God, perhaps, can tell how many elections he wants to win”.

What Sukkhan, aged around 40, said assumes significance as he conceded that he and his family voted for the BJP in the last parliamentary elections. When asked about the vaccination drive, Sukkhan said, “I heard about it but could not get the shot as I do not know how to get an appointment online.”

Sukkhan was lucky as he got a Meerut-bound bus on Tuesday afternoon though it was jam packed with fleeing migrants and passengers.

Social distancing and other protocols designed to prevent the virus from spreading are meaningless for the poor as they feel they have to die eventually – either from the virus or hunger. Dying from hunger frightens migrants and the poor people more than the Coronavirus.